Buckle



y 7, 1936- B. BECKER ET AL 2,046,807

B LE

Filed Ja 2, 1955 WVA 025 2/7 407/ acket iii) Patented July 7, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BUCKLE Benjamin Becker and Sam Becker, St. Louis, Mo. Application January 2, 1935, Serial No. 44

8 Claims. (01. 24163) This invention relates generally to buckles. More particularly, our invention relates to a certain new and useful improvement in metallic buckles of the pressed cloth-covered type for use especially, though not exclusively, upon apparelgarments and the like, and to the method of manufacturing or producing the same.

A buckle of the type stated comprises a skeleton frame of hollow or tubular structure and is formed by snugly or tightly interfitting a pair of opposed die-pressed complementary or companion metallic shell-like members. During the formation of and in covering the buckle, separate pieces or sections of cloth or other fabric are spread over the outer faces of the respective shells, the marginal portions of the fabric-coverings being folded over the sides of, and into the hollow or cavity of and space between, the shells during the process of interfitting the same, for stretching and securing the fabric-sections smoothly over the thus formed skeleton frame of the buckle.

Heretofore, it has been common to construct covered buckles of the type stated with the frame thereof lying in a flat or rectilinearplane. Our present invention, however, has for its prime object the provision of a, cloth-covered pressed metallic buckle characterized by having a skeleton tubular frame whose respective side and end portions are disposed in different curvilinear planes angularly disposed the one to the other, the finished buckle having softly modeled curves presenting a highly artistic and pleasing aspect and appearance, and our invention having for a further object the provision of a simple, readily and economically practiced method for producing the so-contoured buckle.

And with the above and other objects in View, our invention resides in the unique buckle and method of producing the same, all as presently described and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:-

Figures 1 and 1a illustrate a plan view of a pair of pressed complementary metallic buckleframe forming members adapted for interfitting engagement into cooperative relationship for providing a tubular or hollow skeleton-frame buckle of circular contour in plan, the cloth or fabric covering pieces having been applied to said members with the marginal portions of the cloth or fabric folded over and lapped under the side walls thereof;

Figure 2 is aplan view of the buckle resulting from the interfitting engagement of the frameforming members of Figure 1, the buckle-frame lying in a fiat or rectilinear plane;

Figures? and 4, are, respectively, sectional views, taken approximately at right angles to each other, of a. pair of male and female dies in cooperative relationship for forming the buckle of Figure 2 into difierent angularly opposed curvilinear planes, the dot-dash lines illustrating the position of the dies and the buckle therebetween at the beginning of the buckle-curving operation, Figure 3 being taken approximately along the line 3-3, Figure 4, and Figure 4 being taken approximately along the line 44, Figure 3;

Figures 5 and 6 are, respectivelyyside elevational views, taken approximately at right angles to each other, of the curved buckle as appearing after the forming operations of Figures 3 and 4,

- showing the manner in which the buckle is curved orbent in different angularly opposed curvilinear planes;

Figures 7 and 8 are, respectively, plan and perspective views of the finished buckle of Figures 5 I and 6; and

Figures 9 and 10 are perspective views of differently contoured finished buckles of our invention.

Referring now more in detail and by reference characters to the drawing, A designates one of a pair of pressed complementary metallic buckleframe forming members, which, as shown, is in the form of a flat disk annularly channeled on its under face and having inturned inner and outer side walls or flanges I, 2, respectively, and a diametrically disposed cross or pintle-bar 3 lengthwise channeled on its under face and provided with an intermediate neck or tongue-receptive notch 4.

A designates the other member of said pair, which likewise, in the present instance, is in the form of a flat disk annularly channeled on its under face and having inner and outer inturned side walls I, 2, respectively, and a diametrically disposed similarly channeled cross or pintle-bar 3' also provided with an intermediate tonguereceptive notch 4'.

The walls I, 2', of the member or shell-like disk A are disposed for nesting with or interfltting neatly over the walls I, 2, of the companion shell-disk A, and likewise the pintle-bar 3' of the member A is disposed to nest with or interflt over 5 the complementary pintle-bar 3 of the member A, for purposes presently appearing.

" 5 designates, in the present instance, a corresponding annular'section or piece of buckle-covering material, as cloth or other suitable fabric,

which is applied over the face of the member A with its inside and outside margins 5', 5", respectively, folded over said inside and. outside side walls I, 2, and 6 designates a similar piece of covering-material applied to the member A with its inside and outside margins 6', 6", respectively, likewise folded over said inside and outside side walls I, 2".

In constructing the buckle, the members A, A, are interfitted one into the other, with their fabric-covered faces outwardly presented for forming a. skeleton tubular buckle-frame having a hollow interior, as at I, as best seen in Figures.;.3 and 4. The fabric marginal portions 5, 5, 6, 6 during such operation, are crimped or engaged between the engaging side walls I, 2, I, 2,, of the members A, A, and the coverings 5, 6 smoothly and neatly stretched and secured on and over the buckle B, which then has .the-appearance best seen in Figure 2.

Inasmuch as the buckle-frame forming members A, A are initially flat and, in the present instance, of circular contour in plan, the buckle B is likewise circular in plan and lies in a flat or rectilinear plane, as shown by dot-dash lines 'in Figures 3 and 4.

For now formingand shaping the flat, rectilinear buckle B into a plurality of different angularly disposed curvilinear'planes, as shown inFigures 5 and 6, we provide a pair of forming or shaping dies comprising a female die 0 and a male die'or punch D, which latter fits accurately with the die C.

In transverse profile, the forming face 8 0i the female die C is shaped to "include a pair of intersecting or angularly disposed curvilinearplan'es, one'of said planes'being convexacr'oss adiameter of 'the die as shown in Figure '3, and the other of said planes being concave across adiameter at right angles to the first mentioned plane, as shown in Figure 4.

Likewise, the forming face 9 of the punchjD includes a pair of intersecting angularly disposed curvilinear planes complementary to the face 8 of thedie C, and it may here be said that, when, as in the present instance, the respective tubular frame-member of the "buckle B 'ha'v'e -acoiivex face, "the male die D also 'may be provided with anannular groove Ill, complementary to such con'vex face of the buckle 'framefas best seen in Figures 3 an'd'4.

Thejforming face- 8of the'femaledie "C is pro- "vided witha'dee'p annular groove'or intaglio III which follows the contour or profile of the die and is-complementary also "to the contour 'ofth'e composite skeleton frame-'m'erribers' A, A anda preferably somewhat shallower groove I2. compleinntar-y to the composite' piiitle bars3, 3 ofthe buckle}A,"as"best also-seen in Figure's'3 and 4.

Upsta'n'clin'g fromthe female die Cisa marginal wall or mouthpiece "I 3, conforming in contour to the contour of the particular buckleBand whose 'inside' face lffo'rms a continuation of theouter race or wallof the'groo've I I andextends *therefrom obliquely in an upward and'oiitward direc- 'tion, for "a. purpose preseirltly appearing. 'The face I4 of theinner wall of therecess or :groove 'I I similarly extends obliquely upwardly and divergingly relatively to theface l'fof the wan- I3,

"as shown.

In shaping the finished buckle, T the .buckle -.B deposited within the die C and immovably 're tainedlby thewalls of itsres'pective grooves'I land I 2, as shown by dot-dash lines inFigures-3'1and 4.

The pu'n'ch D is then caused, by any convenient and substituted means, to descend upon the die C for engaging the interposed buckle therebetween, the action of the dies C, D, being to apply pressure on the opposite top and bottom faces of the buckle while confining the several side faces of each tubular member of the buckle frame against lateral or spreading movement. The buckle B is, consequently, shaped and formed in intersecting angularly opposed curvilinear planes, the so pressed and shaped buckle, designated B, having the curvilinear form best seen in Figures 5 and 6, wherein Figure 5 is a view looking along the axis ofone of the curvilinear planes, and Figure 6 is ayiew looking along the axis of the other of said planes, that is, at right angles to the axis of the plane ofFigure .5. U

As will be understood, the buckle B, when in its initial condition, .as shown by dot-dash lines in Figures 3 and 4, has a greater diametrical span of its outer walls than is the span between the same points after the buckle B has been formed, as describedfinto the buckle B. Such shortening of the dia'metricalspan of the buckle B would, in anopen sided die, result in detrimental distortio'n and separationof the side walls of the buckle during the forming operation. Such distortion and separation of the side walls of .the initial buckleiBfare-entirelyobviated by so dimensioning thedie C that, both when the'buckle B, in its initial fiatcondition, is deposited in the die C, as shown bydot-dash linesin Figures 3 and a, and during the forming and shaping operation, the buckle B will be snuglyengaged by the opposed 'wall'faces I4, I4, which are so divergingly inclinedorobliquely disposed as to effectively confine the several walls of the buckle-frame and thereby prevent lateral expansion, buckling, or wrinkling .of the "tubular members of the frame .of thebuckle B .during the forming and shaping I operation.

7 Following such forming and shaping operation, the buckle B is equipped with a tongue 25, which ;at1an end;is pivotally mounted at the notches 4, .4.,.of the .interfitted pintle-bars '3, 3', of the buckle-frame members, the finished buckle having thezappearancaform, and shape best seen in plan --in Figure? andin'perspective in'Figure 8, while :Figures 9 and .10 illustrate in perspective finished differently curved buckles B and B initially of .fiatrectangular and oval form and contour, re-

spectively, in the production of which we have employed similarly constructed die and punch .members contoured and shaped to accommodate the respective buckles Thus by .our invention, we provide in a facile gmannerla unique, highly artistic article of adornment, as well as an article of most efficient utility, thefinished buckle-of our invention having softly moulded curves presenting a full and iich appearanceand, by reason of its opposing curvilinear planes, conforming neatly with the waist or body of the wearer and being hence highly adaptable for wear with a belt, sash, or the like. It .will be understood that other changes and .modifications in the buckle and unique method of its .manufacture or production may be made for that herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle'of our invention. Having thus described our invention, what we claim'and desireto secure by Letters Patent is,-

1. As a new article of manufacture, an ornamenting apparel buckle comprising an endless .rigid centrally apertured metallic frame of hollow formation comprising'front and rear walls spaced one from the other in registering relation by inner and outer side walls, the frame walls being interxnediately bent and the frame thereby including portions disposed in different curvilinear planes for conforming to curvature of the body of the apparel-wearer, said frame having a pintle-bar disposed diametrically across the central aperture between correspondingly shaped curvilinear opposite side portions of the frame to be thus disposed out of a plane with the frame portions at right angles thereto due to the different curvilinear curvature.

2. As a new article of manufacture, an. ornamenting apparel buckle comprising an endless rigid centrally apertured metallic frame of hollow formation comprising front and rear walls spaced one from the other in registering relation by inner and outer side walls, the frame walls being intermediately bent and the frame thereby including portions disposed in different curvilinear planes angularly presented the one to the other to conform to curvature of the body of the apparel-wearer, said frame having a pintle-bar disposed diametrically across the central aperture between correspondingly shaped curvilinear opposite side portions of the frame to be thus disposed out of a plane with the frame portions at right angles thereto due to the different curvilinear curvature.

3. As a new article of manufacture, an ornamenting apparel buckle comprising an. endless rigid centrally apertured metallic frame of hollow formation comprising front and rear walls spaced one from the other in registering relation by inner and outer side walls, the frame walls being intermediately bent and the frame thereby including respective side and end portions disposed in intersecting curvilinear planes to conform to curvature of the body of the apparel wearer, said frame having a pintle-bar disposed diametrically across the central aperture between correspondingly shaped curvilinear opposite side portions of the frame to be thus disposed out of a plane with the frame portions at right angles thereto due to the different curvilinear curvature.

4. As a new article of manufacture, an ornamenting apparel buckle comprising an endless rigid centrally apertured metallic frame of hollow formation comprising front and rear walls spaced one from the other in registering relation by inner and outer side walls, the frame walls being intermediately bent and the frame thereby including respective side and end portions disposed in intersecting curvilinear planes having their axes at right angles to each other to conform to curvature of the body of the apparelwearer, said frame having a pintle-bar disposed diametrically across the central aperture between correspondingly shaped curvilinear opposite side portions of the frame to be thus disposed out of a plane with the frame portions at right angles thereto due to the different curvilinear curvature.

5. As a new article of manufacture, an ornamenting apparel buckle comprising an endless rigid centrally apertured metallic frame of hol low formation constructed from a pair of opposed interfittingly engaging shell-like members and comprising front and rear walls spaced one from the other in registering relation by inner and outer side walls. the frame walls being intermediately bent and the frame thereby including respective side and end portions disposed in intersecting curvilinear'planes having their axes at right angles to each other to conform to curvature of the body of the apparel-wearer, said frame having a pintle-bar disposed diametrically across the central aperture between correspondingly shaped curvilinear opposite side portions of the frame to be thus disposed out of a plane with the frame portions at right angles thereto due to the different curvilinear curvature.

6. As a new article of manufacture, an ornamenting apparel buckle comprising an endless rigid centrally apertured metallic frame of hollow formation constructed from and embodying a pair of shell-like members interfittingly joined together in opposed relation, the frame comprising front and rear walls spaced one from the other in registering relation by inner and outer side walls and the frame walls being concurrently bent subsequent to the joining of said members and the frame thereby including portions disposed in different curvilinear planes for conforming to curvature of the body of the apparelwearer, said frame having a pintle-bar disposed diametrically across the central aperture between correspondingly shaped curvilinear opposite side portions of the frame to be thus disposed out of a plane with the frame portions at right angles thereto due to the different curvilinear curvature.

7. As an article of manufacture, an ornamental apparel buckle comprising an endless rigid centrally apertured frame, the frame sides being intermediately bent from a common plane and the frame thereby including portions disposed in different curvilinear planes for conforming to curvature of the body of the apparel-wearer, said frame having a pintle-bar carried dimetrically across the central aperture between correspondingly curvilinear-shaped opposite side portions of the frame to be thus disposed out of a plane with the frame portions at right angles thereto due to the different curvilinear curvature, and a buckle tongue swingably mounted on said pintle-bar with its free outer end presented to lie and rest in a concave formation of the last-mentioned curvilinear curvature.

8. As a new article of manufacture, an ornamenting apparel buckle comprising an endless rigid centrally apertured metallic frame of hollow formation constructed from and embodying a pair of shell-like members interfittingly joined together in opposed relation, the frame comprising front and rear walls spaced one from the other by inner and outer side walls and the entire frame wall structure being concurrently bent subsequent to the joining of said members to provide frame portions disposed in different curvilinear planes conforming to curvature of the body of the apparel-wearer, said frame having a pintle-bar extending diametrically across the central aperture between correspondingly curvilinear-shaped opposite side portions of the frame to be thus disposed out of a plane with the frame portions at right-angles thereto due to the different curvilinear curvature, and a buckle tongue swingably mounted on said pintle-bar with its free outer end presented to lie and rest in a concave formation of the last-mentioned curvature.

BENJAMIN BECKER. SAM BECKER. 

